Means for launching torpedoes



April 4, 1939. J. E. THORNYCROFT MEANS FOR LAUNCHING TORPEDOES Filed June 8, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 4, 1939. J. E. THORNYCROF T 2,153,285

MEANS FOR LAUNCHING TORPEDOES Filed June 8, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 4, 1939 PATENT OFFICE MEANS FOR LAUNGHING TORPEDOES John Edward Thornycroft, Westminster, England Application June 8, 1938, Serial No. 212,562 In Great Britain March 26, 1938 10 Claims.

This invention relates to means for launching torpedoes from a navigable surface water vessel and particularly to means whereby a torpedo can be discharged over the side of the vessel at a small angle to the direction of travel of the vessel.

The present invention has for its object to provide a navigable vessel, particularly a vessel of the class known as a motor torpedo boat, with a torpedo tube so mounted and arranged on the deck of a boat that normally it lies within the line of the gunwale of the boat but which can be extended beyond the gunwale to enable a torpedo to be launched over the side of the boat at a small angle to the centre line of the boat without fouling the deck, whether the boat be in motion or at rest.

For this purpose according to the present invention, a boat of the class referred to, is provided with a torpedo tube mounted on one or each side of the deck at any desired permanent angle to the centre lineof the boat, for instance up to about 10 to the centre line, with its forward end normally terminating at or near to the gunwale of the boat, means being associated with the v forward end of the tube to extend beyond the gunwale of the boat to afford support to a torpedo during launching thereof so that the torpedo can be launched from the boat when travelling at a high or low speed or at rest, without coming into contact with the deck or side thereof.

The means giving the support beyond the gunwale of the boat for supporting a torpedo during launching thereof may comprise a shute lip or spoon hinged to the forward end of the tube in such manner that normally the shute will lie within the gunwale of the boat and can be turned outwards over the gunwale when it is desired to launch a torpedo. Or the means for supporting a torpedo during launching thereof may comprise a shute lip or spoon adapted to be placed on the end of the torpedo tube for launching of a torpedo and to be afterwards removed, or may comprise a sleeve or lip carried by the tube and adapted to be moved outward to enable a torpedo to be launched and to be moved inboard when required.

The tail of a torpedo may be supported during launching by the supporting means arranged below it, or with some forms of torpedo, it may be supported by a T-headed support in a groove in the upper portion of the tube and the groove being continued to the end of the shute lip or spoon, or by lugs on the side of the torpedo engaging 55 grooves arranged in the tube on or above the horizontal diameter of the tube and which are continued to the end of the lip or spoon.

In the accompanying illustrative drawings, Fig. 1 shows in side elevation one construction of torpedo launching means according to the present .invention with torpedo supporting means in its operative position and Fig. 2 shows in side elevation the torpedo supporting means in its inoperative position. Figs. 3 and 4 show respectively in side elevation and plan a modified construction of torpedo launching means. Fig. 5 shows in elevation a further modified construction. Figs. 6 and '7 show in elevation a further modification of torpedo launching means with the supporting means in its inoperative and operative position respectively. Figs. 8 to 14 are respectively similar views to Figs. 1 to 7 showing further modifications of torpedo launching means.

Fig. 15 is an end view and Fig. 16 a perspective view of a torpedo tube and lip according to Figs. 8 to 14 showing means for guiding a torpedo.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a boat I is provided on one or each side of the deck thereof with a torpedo tube 2 carried by brackets 3 adapted to support the tube close to the deck 4 and permanently fixed at an angle of about 10' to the centre line of the boat, the forward end of the tube terminating near to the gunwale of the boat as shown in Fig. 2. To enable a torpedo to be supported during launching, the forward end of the torpedo tube 2 or each tube is provided with a shute or spoon Shinged to turn about a horizontal axis 6 in such manner that normally it can be turned over the top of the tube (Fig. 2) and can be turned about its axis into an outward position extending beyond the gunwale, as shown in Fig. 1, when it is desired to launch a torpedo.

According to the modified construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4, a torpedo tube 2, or each tube, terminating near to the gunwale of a boat I is provided with a sleeve or shute lip 5 hinged at its inboard side to the end of the tube in such manner that the said lip can be turned about a vertical axis 6 so that normally it lies within the line of the gunwale of the boat I as shown at the lower portion of Fig. 4 and can be turned outwards to extend over the gunwale of the boat as shown at the upper portion of Fig. 4 when it is desired to launch a torpedo from the tube.

According to the further modified construction shown in Fig. 5 a removable shute or spoon 5 is provided adapted to embrace the forward end of the tube 2 or each tube and extend beyond the gunwale of the boat when it is desired to launch a torpedo. Or, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the

forward end of the torpedo tube 2 or each tube terminating near to the gunwale of the boat I is provided with a sliding sleeve or spoon 5, the forward end of which normally terminates at or near the end of the tube (Fig. 6) and is adapted to be moved into an outward position (Fig. '7) when required by suitable means, for instance hand operated means I.

In the modified constructions shown in Figs. 8 to 16, the torpedo is supported by a T-headed support adapted to engage with a groove 8 (Fig. 15) in the top of the tube 2, the said groove being continued to the end of the lip or spoon 5, or by lugs in the side of the torpedo engaging ribs or grooves 9 (Fig. 16) in the tube 2 on or above the horizontal diameter of thetube which are continued to the end of the lip or spoon. In the construction shown in Figs. 8 and 9 the lip or spoon 5 is mounted to turn about a horizontal axisli! arranged along the top of the tube. In Figs. 10 and 11 the lip or spoon is mounted to turn about a vertical axis 6 arranged in a similar jmanner to that shown in Figs. 3 and 4 while in the constructions shown in Fig. 12 and in Figs. 13

v able surface water vessel, comprising a torpedo tube mounted on the deck of said vessel at a permanent angle to the centre line thereof with its forward end terminating at or near to the gunwale of said vessel and means associated with the forward end of said tube to extend beyond said gunwale whereby a torpedo launched from said tube will be supported during launching without coming into contact with the deck or side of said vessel.

2. Means for launching torpedoes from a navigable surface water vessel, comprising a torpedo tube mounted on the deck of said vessel at a permanent angle to the centre line thereof with its forward end terminating at or near to the gunwale of said vessel, a forwardly extending shute lip carried by the forward end of said torpedo tube and means whereby said shute lip can be extended beyond the gunwale of said vessel for launching a torpedo.

3. Means for launching torpedoes from a navigable surface water vessel, comprising a torpedo tube mounted on the deck of said vessel at a permanent angle to the centre line thereof with its forward end terminating at or near to the gunwale of said vessel and a shute lip carried by the forward end of said torpedo tube and mounted to turn about an axis whereby said shute lip can be turned from a position within the gunwale of said vessel into a position extending beyond said gunwale.

4. Means for launching torpedoes from a navigable surface water vessel, comprising a torpedo tube mounted on the deck of said vessel at a permanent angle to the centre line thereof with its forward end terminating at or near to the gunwale of said vessel, a shute lip carried by the forward end of said torpedo tube and means in said tube and said shute lip to support a torpedo, said shute lip being mounted to turn about an axis whereby said shute lip can be turned from a position within the gunwale of said vessel into a position extending beyond said gunwale. f

5. Means for launching torpedoes according to claim 3, wherein said shute lip is mounted to turn about a horizontal axis.

6. Means for .launching torpedoes according to claim 4, wherein said shute lip is mounted to turn about a horizontal axis at the top of said tube.

'7. Means for launching torpedoes according to claim 3, wherein said shute lip is mounted to turn about a vertical axis.

8. Means for launching torpedoes according to claim 4, wherein said shute lip is mounted to turn for moving said shute lip in a forward and rearward direction on said tube.

10. Means for launching torpedoes according to claim 1, wherein said torpedo tube is mounted on the deck of said vessel at a permanent angle up to about 10 to the centre line of said vessel.

JOHN EDWARD 'II-IORNYCROFI. 

